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Man City are under pressure to finish fourth - Given

Shay Given
Given says finishing fourth will help City in the transfer market

Manchester City are under pressure to finish fourth in the Premier League and secure a Champions League spot, goalkeeper Shay Given has revealed.

Roberto Mancini's side are currently sixth, two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham but with a game in hand.

And Given told BBC Radio Five live: "It's pretty clear, we know we've got to try to finish fourth. If we don't, it would be a disappointing season.

"There's pressure on the manager and on the players to try to deliver that."

Following his dismissal in December former City boss Mark Hughes said the club's owners had given him the target of finishing sixth in the Premier League and reaching 70 points.

But with 10 games to play City have 50 points and along with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham are still involved in a four-way battle for the final Champions League place.

606: DEBATE
Red_Devil_85 - In the Waiter we Trust, Y.A.W.N

The league table will become clearer for Mancini's side by the time they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday at 1500 GMT, with rivals Liverpool facing Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier that day at 1330 GMT.

Prior to that Villa host Wolves at 12.45 GMT on Saturday, while Tottenham travel to Stoke for a 1500 GMT kick off.

City have spent heavily to chase success - with Hughes shelling out close to £200m on players during his 18-month reign, including a record-breaking British transfer fee of £32.4m on Robinho.

And Given believes Champions League qualification would hand the club a better chance of attracting more high profile players over the summer.

"We'll push hard in the remaining games and hopefully get across the line and that would be good, to get Champions League football at Eastlands," said the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper.

"That would be fantastic and I think it would help to attract a couple of players in the summer as well, to strengthen the squad and move the club forward."



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see also
Fulham 1-2 Man City
21 Mar 10 |  Premier League
Man City hit by injury to Bridge
17 Mar 10 |  Man City
City sign �1bn regeneration deal
12 Mar 10 |  Manchester
I had no warning of sack - Hughes
20 Dec 09 |  Man City


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